Employment for geologists is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2024, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH). Opportunities in the field will be excellent because a large number of geologists are expected to retire during the next decade and demand for energy resources is expected to increase. Job opportunities will be especially strong for those with a master’s degree who are familiar with computer modeling and the global positioning system (GPS). Geologists who are able to speak a foreign language and who are willing to work overseas will also have strong employment prospects. The introduction of new techniques such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing that can reach untapped energy reserves have also created many new opportunities for geologists in the energy industry (although opportunities in the U.S. have declined in recent years as a result of low prices on fossil fuels). The OOH says that "geoscientists will be needed to help plan the construction of wind farms, geothermal power plants, and solar power plants. Alternative energies, such as wind energy, geothermal energy, and solar energy, can use large areas of land and affect wildlife and other natural processes."

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